THE public should rely on Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) and not through social media for more valid and accurate information, a senior government official said yesterday.

Hj Md Rozan Dato Paduka Hj Md Yunos, the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office (Media and Cabinet), said that many people today obtain information faster via social media. However, the information is often innacurate and inconsistent with information presented through proper media channels.

“”This is one of the major challenges faced by RTB today,” Hj Md Rozan said, adding that the dissemination of false information could cause widespread panic and agitation.

He was speaking during the launch of the RTB Media Carnival at Times Square yesterday.

To overcome this issue, the Permanent Secretary urged the state broadcaster to also play an active role in social media.

“RTB must move forward and explore in the use of social media applications and interactive media …

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Friday, November 28, 2014 - JOBSEEKERS applying for government jobs will be able to submit and track the status of their applications online next year.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam announced the new online recruitment service in a titah yesterday during the 21st Civil Service Day celebration at the International Convention Centre.

The monarch said this would help fix the delay in government’s work in recruiting and filling up vacancies.

The new service will allow jobseekers to submit their applications online, including completing the forms and making automatic data entry. They will also receive acknowledgement (of receipt of applications), and notice of interview and results of their application within a short time.

His Majesty said the theme of this year’s celebration, “A Dynamic Governance towards the wellbeing of the nation”, underscored the importan…

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thursday, November 27, 2014 - THE National Archives of Brunei Darussalam was established in 1977 to house and preserve for posterity government and public records and historical documents.

Senior archives officer Hj Mohammad Jefri Hj Mohd Sabli said the various roles of the public records office were set out in the National Archives of Brunei Darussalam Act, 1975 (Chapter 116), 1983.

“The centre does not only keep records and archives but also authorises the disposal of public records. This includes identifying, appraising, registering, archiving, securing, preserving and conserving national documentary heritage principals,” he said.

The building also facilitates access to public records for research and reference.

“We also assist in asserting the national agenda in the form of information sharing and education,” he said.

Public consultancy services are also offered in record-keeping management, including conventional and electronic records.

I have been neglecting Cuboiart for a couple of years now. I still consider him one of the best, if not the best in Brunei coming up with his insights on Brunei's lifestyle. This cartoon was issued last week on Borneo Bulletin and it really captured what I would be thinking every now and then in keeping myself motivated to do my early morning walk...

The Brunei Times on Wednesday, 26th November 2014 published the following feature:

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - OXFORD Business Group spoke to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for "The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2014". Here are excerpts from the article.

What is being done to encourage more efficient energy use in Brunei Darussalam?

HIS MAJESTY: Brunei Darussalam has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources, which allows us to meet all of our domestic energy needs. It is important that this self-sufficiency be prolonged as much as possible in order to ensure that we continue to enjoy stability in terms of energy security and maintain an environment conducive to continuous economic development. Prudent use of our energy resources is therefore my government’s priority, driven by, among other things, our national aspiration to reduce energy consumption by 45% by 2035. Education,…

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 26th November 2014 - The government's proposal to build apartment blocks under the National Housing Scheme (RPN) has received a positive reaction from the public. According to the Minister of Development, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the results of the surveys which have been carried out twice found 70 per cent agrees the construction of the housing project.

However, Yang Berhormat Pehin said the ministry has also received the input from the public towards the project's improvement and will consider it.

The Development Minister said that this matter is being carried out due to a decreasing amount of land for housing projects. It is true that from an aerial view there is still a large mass of forest but land that can be easily developed is decreasing. This is why vertical housing was proposed and it was only proposed following the supportive views of the public and suggestions for improvemen…

FITRI SHAHMINANBANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - BRUNEIAN companies need to consider merging to expand their businesses and operate regionally by next year, said the regional editor of the Oxford Business Group (OBG), a global publishing, research and consultancy firm.

As ASEAN moves towards forming an integrated regional economy and single production base in 2015, Brunei should already focus on growing its companies to move abroad, Paulius Kuncinas (pic) told The Brunei Times.

“You have to encourage them to grow their revenues. Maybe consolidate, maybe you have companies merging and going together,” he said, following the launch of the firm’s annual publication The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2014 at an event held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital yesterday.

He said Brunei needs to trade more with its neighbours and this requires the private sector “stepping up” and going overseas.

“It has to start with the realisation of the private sector. Together they s…

KUWAIT, Nov 23 (KUNA) -- Trade exchange between Kuwait and Brunei, which is estimated at USD 6 billion, is below the aspired levels regarding the bilateral historical ties, a senior Finance Ministry official said on Sunday.There is common expectation to enhance bilateral economic ties and trade, Ministry Undersecretary Khalifa Hamada said in a press statement on the sidelines of the second meeting of the Kuwait-Brunei Joint Committee (KBJC) that opened here today.
Hamada who chairs the gathering with his counterpart from the Sultanate Ministry of Foreign Trade, said the agenda of the two-day meetings covers a review of cooperation in fields of economy, trade, investment, higher education, petroleum and IT, as well as the private sector.
Today, the two sides assessed developments since the first meeting was held in Darussalam in 2010, in addition to identifying requirements for ce…

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The capital's town centre became the focal point when the final of the Go-Kart race was held yesterday. His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik consented to launch the race which was organised in conjunction with the 44th Anniversary of the name change from Bandar Brunei to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Upon arrival His Royal Highness was greeted by the Acting Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awg Halbi, as Chairman of the Bandar Seri Begawan Go-Kart Race 2014 as well as members of the race's executive committee.

Before officiating the launch, His Royal Highness was introduced to the race participants. The championship was divided into three categories - Novice, Veteran and Elite. More than thirty five racers competed in the finals including seven participants from overseas namely Oman, India and Malaysia.

His Royal Highness consented to launch the final Elite race, participated by fourteen race…

I WAS walking past vendors’ stalls at a trade fair when I saw this exotic food item I had last seen a few years back. It was minyak engkabang. It looks like a large yellowish glue stick encased in bamboo. It was on display recently at an exhibition of products made by various villages.

Seeing that food item at Times Square where the exhibition was held brought me back to our home kitchen many years back when I first saw my parents eating rice mixed with minyak engkabang. My mother and father were having lunch. On the table I saw what looked like a large glue stick in a bamboo tube. The contents of the tube were a pale yellow that my mother mixed with the rice she was eating. I asked her what it was and she said: “Minyak engkabang. It’s good with steaming rice.”

I had long forgotten about it until recently when I saw the “large glue stick”, similar to the one that my parents had for lunch one afternoon in our kitc…

Building a model or replica boat, no doubt, requires a lot of time and patience. Made of small-scale pieces, the models are intricately assembled all by hand. While the construction process differs from how life-sized wooden boats are built, it still requires some expertise nonetheless.

One of the few local Bruneians who are into making model boats (or Perahu as it is called in local Malay) is Hj Abdul Rahim bin Hj Ahmad from Kampong Mentiri in Jalan Kota Batu. What he initially started as a passing interest while he was still working has now become a serious hobby for him.

The 64-year-old ex-policeman collects woods for his models from the local sawmills at reasonable prices. The woods he normally uses are Meraka Merah, Meraka Putih, Kayu Kapur and the tough and sensitive wood of Madang Sisik.

Hj Abd Rahim produces numerous types of local boats in different sizes. He has basically made all types of Brunei boats such as Perahu Lumba that comes with oars,…

Saturday, November 22, 2014 - BRUNEI has maintained its 30th rank in the 2014 United Nation’s Human Development Index (HDI).

This was due to the effectiveness of policy and manifestation towards achieving the country’s Vision 2035 which focuses on improving and raising the people’s quality of life, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman said during a conference held recently in Bangkok.

The Asian and Pacific Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Beijing + 20 Review Conference was held from November 17 to 20.

Issues related to the advancement of women are handled under a special committee on family institution and women under the National Council on Social Issues.

The deputy minister added that the country’s emphasis on education is another reason for the progress, that the government has allocated 13 per cent of the annual national budget exclusively on education.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — Largely ignored by tourists for decades, Brunei is finally stirring as a holiday destination, drawing more tourists with its pristine rainforest as well as quiet and safe image.

The oil-rich kingdom on the northwest coast of Borneo has the potential to become an ecotourism hub due to its untarnished rainforest in the heart of Borneo, after being sidelined for years by more popular tourist spots such as Mt Kinabalu in neighbouring Malaysia, tourism industry officials and travel agents say.

Tourists to Brunei have risen in recent years, with more cruise ships calling at its port while travel agents have also been including Brunei as part of their regional itinerary. Some 3.3 million visitors came to Brunei last year, up from about 2 million in 2007, according to data from the Brunei Tourism Development under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

LAPAU, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 21 November 2014 - Media practitioners are the first in line to distribute and broadcast accurate information as well as having the right accountability. A media sharing information programme and the government agencies act as a medium in sharing knowledge between the government with the government and private media.

According to Yang Amat Mulia, the existence of the open communication network will enable media to broadcast and disseminate the correct information to the public without affecting the image and reputation of the Monarch and the Government.

Yang Amat Mulia also said the Public Communication Committee for the Government and its Departments will also be use as a bilateral platform between the Media and the Government.

MANILA, Thursday, November 20, 2014 - SHELL International’s VP for Exploration in Asia and Australia yesterday said he is very confident there is more oil and gas in Brunei, and is looking to see how undertaking exploration can be economically viable for Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) and the government.

Speaking to The Brunei Times here in Manila on the sidelines of a briefing of the Philippines Malampaya Deep Water Gas and Power Project, Graeme Smith said his role as VP for exploration is to try and find new hydrocarbon pools in Brunei.

“I am very confident that there is more oil and gas in Brunei. What I would love to see, double check and have a conversation... is how we can make those rewarding for both Shell and the government,” he said.

With regards to exploration, Smith said he would love to drill more and see whether the small accumulations can be economic for BSP and therefore make money, given that the bigger accumulations have already been tapped…

On Friday, 10 October 2014, The Brunei Times reprinted my article on the post war education history in Brunei Darussalam. This article has been reprinted at least twice before in The Brunei Times before this. Here is the article which was published under my column The Golden Legacy:
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ROZAN YUNOSBANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, October 10, 2014

TODAY in Brunei, students have a choice of four universities to choose from, all fully funded by the government. However providing education has not always been as easy as it is now. We look at the early development of education in Brunei.
When the British Resident first began his duty in Brunei in 1906, the education system in Brunei was along the line of religious education with “sekolah pondok” and students being taught the rudiments of the Islamic religion as well as how to read the Al-Quran. It was not until 1911 that the British Resident was able to introduce a western education system. It was not because education did not play an important r…

BRUNEI Tourism received a major shot in the arm as cruise vessel MV Sentosa was launched yesterday.

Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, said cruising along the Brunei River in the comfort of a spacious vessel is an attractive and value-added service not just for in bound visitors but also for domestic activities and tourism.

The minister spoke to the media while cruising the Brunei River after the vessel’s launch.

A river cruise provides a different mood altogether, for example a sunset river cruise while enjoying sumptuous buffet dinner, holding an event such as a celebration providing memorable takeaways for the passengers and touring the pristine river that is still in its natural state. River cruising is a niche market.

The minister said there are countries that have actually developed their rivers to provide for this industry, but in Brunei, the river …

The Oxford Business Group reported the following news on Brunei on 14th November 2014 as follows:
+++++ Brunei Darussalam eyes 'agri-tech' route to self-sufficiency
Economic Update | 14 November 2014

Innovative agricultural initiatives launched in Brunei Darussalam, such as developing new rice hybrids and growing plants in water, underline how agro-technology can edge the Sultanate closer to its goal of food self-sufficiency.

Figures released by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood (DAA) in November showed that the agrifood sector, which excludes livestock and crops, made up nearly 30% of the overall industry in 2013, with a total value of $86.2m representing a 37% increase year-on-year. Between 2009 and 2012, the agrifood industry represented 22-23% of the sector.

While Brunei is about the size of Bangkok, three quarters of the Sultanate’s 526,500 ha is under forest cover, of which the government has allowed only 1%, or 5895 ha, for agricultural use. The limited availabilit…

NOVEMBER 7, 1994 – The Brunei $100 notes are back. They will reappear once again over the counter and in ATMs at local banks as from today. This follows a directive from the Brunei Currency Board to the Association of Banks over the weekend, bank sources said.

Banks were told to put them back into circulation with immediate effect.

According to sources, Brunei $100 bills began to disappear from the public eye following an advisory from the Brunei Currency Board, according to bankers.

Fifty dollar bills were used instead. ATMs were also emptied of $100 bills. Sources, however, emphasised that $100 bills were still legal tender and there should be no cause for alarm. The operation to withdraw the current $100 notes from circulation went on very smoothly, and it was pronounced a success, according to bankers. – Ignatius Stephen
The Borneo Bulletin

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Monday, November 17, 2014 - BRUNEI’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth is predicted to be the lowest among ASEAN member countries for the period of 2015 - 2019, a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) stated.

According to the OECD’S Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India, Brunei’s GDP is expected to grow an average of 1.6 per cent annually from 2015 to 2019. This is an increase from 0.9 per cent growth measured between 2011 and 2013.

In comparison, for the same 2015 - 2019 period, Myanmar is expected to grow at 7.8 per cent a year, Indonesia at 6.0 per cent, Malaysia at 5.6 per cent, Thailand at 4.1 per cent and Vietnam at 5.7 per cent, Philippines at 6.2 per cent.

Cambodia and Laos are forcasted to grow at 7.1 per cent and 7.6 per cent respectively.

The second slowest growth is Singapore at 3.5 per cent. On average, the ASEAN-10 countries are expected to have a 5.6 per cent growth in GDP per annum du…